The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-12-15
. Washington Letter.

WARRINGTON, d. c., Dec. 10, 1887.
The general drift ofDsmocratic com.
ment on the Presidents brief and prac.
tical message to Congress, bestows the
highest praise on that document. In
deed, many of Mr.. Cieveland's warm
est admirers in Congress sxuitingly
declare that it is the most pithy and
courageous State paper issued since the
days of Jackson. There is naturally
chorus of discordant notes uttered In
an undertone. but that the Presidents
views are those of the Democratic
masses. there ia little reason to serious
1y doubt. With the President and the
speaker of the House cordially con-
curing upon the absolute necessity of
tariff reform, that question dwarfs all
others and becomes the chief political
issue of the times. Democrats differ
as to the particular methods of reach
ing the desired result of reducing in
ternal taxation, but all agree that y
reduction is the country 's only chance
of financial redemption. And here
In Washington. it 10 the universal
opinion of all the politicians that the
tariff question will be the chief factor
In the Presidential contest of 1883.
The organization of the Fiftieth
Congress was effected in q decer0us
manner, despite the anticipation Of q
deadlock in the Senate, which failed
to materialize, although the public
thronged the corridors of the capitol
in the hope of witnessing sensational
scenes.
The Centennial Congress will GER
tainly be memorable for the sweeping
changes in the personnel of the House
Not since 1874, when the tidal wave oi
Democracy overwhelmed Republican
ism, has there been such q revolution
In the membership of that body, fOt
of the 325 who were III Ihs last Con
xrsss, l3O failed to return. Among
those retired are many prominent
men, as fully two.thirds Ut the chair
men ofthe committees were nuIn Dereu
with the defeated. OF the familiar
faces missing from the Senate are
Camden, Jones of Florida, MahOne,
uarriaon and Whitthorne, and from
the House, Morrison, Bragg. Barks-
dale. Warner, Brady, and O'Hara anu
amalls-the two latter being colored
and hailing from North and south
carolina. This leaves "our brothers
In black,' without race representa-
tive in the present Congress.
speaker Carlisle enters upon his
4hird term as presiding ofdcsr of the
House-a distinction only conferred
nuon Ave of his predecessors-the last
of these being Mr.. Blaine. There is
,rueh doubt ~ to whether or not Mr..
Carlisle will be able to appoint his
committees before the holiday ad
iournment, a., in addition to the usual
nressure for desirable places, the
Sneaker has much new material with
uhich to deal. Capital gossip has a..
.,onsd the following members to chair
rasnships: Mills. Ways and Means
randall, Appropriations; Turner,
Elections; Culbertson, Judiciary +;
Rlsnd. Coinage, Weights and Meas.
,,res blanchard, Rivers and Harbors;
and Herbert, Naval Affairs. Rumor,
.rnarently well founded, has it that
+heseChairmanships are as good as set
tied. a.. ,..,.,
prophets were correct in fsrscastins
4ha late Cabinet chsnges. There is
not the least doubt OF MT. Lamsrs
1rompt confirmation As Associate JUS
+,.s whea his nomination shall have
hesn reported back from the Judiciary
nommittee. Many sabordinates In tas